For students who cannot afford the expenses and even for those who can, Financial Assistance can be the answer to all their financial worries. In addition, it is expected that international students show evidence of possessing adequate funds to cover at least the first year of their college education to apply for a student visa. Be it University scholarships or bank loans and private funding from your own country, what you need to focus on is careful and wise planning. Scholarships & Financial aid fee waivers are awarded to international students on the basis of academic merit and the need of it. Students with strong educational background and a strong portfolio would be eligible for scholarship awards. Extra curricular activities also add the extra edge to the scholarship application. Check below list of various scholarships available to Indian design students.

Indian scholarships

Aga Khan Education Services:     

Open for all major degree programmes, the amount of the grant varies as per the course. First class in the Bachelors degree is the minimum requirement and a student should apply in between January to March. Contact address: Aga Khan Education Service, 39/43, Nesbit Road, Diamond Jubilee School, Mazagaon, Mumbai 10, Contact no: (022) 3731811 / 3731488

Inlaks Scholarship abroad:     

Open to students with exceptional talent in any field and applying to American, European or UK institutes. Candidates must be below 30 years of age in the first of July in the year of application. The duration of the funding is 2 years and includes fees, maintenance and 1 way travel. The rank of the institute or the university is important. The applications should be submitted by April of that year. Contact address: Inlaks Foundation, P.O. Box 2108, Delhi - 110 007

American Alumni Association:     

Open to students who have offer letters from a USA university, amount is Rs 50,000. Relevance of the course, educational and co curricular accomplishments are few of the criteria and a student should apply between January to February. Contact address: American alumni association, Vulcan insurance building, 1st Floor veer nariman road, Church gate, Mumbai 400 020 Contact no: (022) 22821413 / 22821485

K. C Mahindra Education Trust:     

Open to students going for Masters Program abroad. Consistent academic records and a first division in the Bachelors Degree are mandatory. The maximum amount of scholarship payable to any scholar shall not exceed Rs.95, 000/-. Contact address: K.C.Mahindra Education Trust, Cecil Court, 3rd floor, Near Regar Cinema, Mahakavi Bhushan Marg, Mumbai-400 039 Contact no: 022 2202 1031

Rotary Scholarships:     

Open to students who are between 18 to 30 years of age and hold a first class honors degree in the related field. The scholarship amount can go up to 10000 GBP and there are 8 categories of the scholarship. Contact address: The Governor, Rotary club of Mumbai, Red cross Building, 2nd floor, Shahed Bhagat singh road, Mumbai-400023

UK Scholarships

British Chevening Scholarships:     

Comprises of a range of short-term tailor-made professional courses and long-term taught academic courses tenable at various higher education institutions in the UK

Charles Wallace India Trust Awards:     

Provides a range of opportunities to study at postgraduate level, undertake research, gain professional experience in the UK or take up a Visiting Fellowship. The awards are managed through the British Council and concentrate primarily on the arts and humanities.

Commonwealth Scholarships:     

Enables Indians of high academic caliber to study in the UK on various masters, doctoral or academic fellowship programs.

Commonwealth Shared Scholarships Scheme:     

This scheme aims to jointly support scholarships for students from developing Commonwealth countries who would not otherwise be able to study in the United Kingdom. Awards are primarily for taught postgraduate courses.

HSBC Scholarships:     

The HSBC Scholarships Programme aims to nurture leaders around the world and help build global knowledge with the accompanying expectation that the lifelong careers of the scholarship recipients will be marked by significant contributions to the community in which they live and work.